Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 682 · 40 questions

Debater's tip (Two sides, one motion): Motion: the statement being debated, often starting “This House believes…” or “This House would…”. Proposition: for the motion, speaks first, defines the key words, ends “I beg to propose”. Opposition: against it, answers the proposition, ends “I beg to oppose”. Good debate topics for students have two real sides; a plain fact is not debatable.

1. 1.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) speaks first
2. 2.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) defines the key words
4. 4.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the judges (b) the audience (c) the proposition (d) the opposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is against the motion
6. 6.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the topic statement (b) the last speech (c) the winner’s prize (d) the timekeeper
7. 7.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
8. 8.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) speaks first (d) may test the definition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
12. 12.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
13. 13.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is for the motion
16. 16.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
17. 17.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
20. 20.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
21. 21.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) answers the proposition
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) a hidden answer (c) one right answer (d) two sides to argue
24. 24.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
26. 26.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
27. 27.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
33. 33.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
34. 34.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House would give every class a pet.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is against the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes 2 + 2 = 4.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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